Source: Savotta

If you find yourself in the home country of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve but still some 815 kilometers south of the actual Santa Claus’ village, you might want to spend the Eve in one of Helsinki’s restaurants.

For the historian the choice might be Kynsilaukka, a restaurant focused on one spice, food, service and an intimate atmosphere. Founded in 1972, the restaurant offers unique garlic based treats like “the secret pleasure” with hot and spicy shrimps, “the eternal passion” with tenderloin of beef, “the gastronome’s weakness” with small blinis with salmon or reindeer, “the conjured from the oven” with braised pike-perch, “the neatly hidden” with pork and mushroom gratin or “the magic of Lapland” with reindeer meat on skewers. Among the desserts especially the cloudberry crêpes with ice-cream and the batter pudding Åland style are worth mentioning.

Source: Savotta

For the explorer, our suggestion would be either former prison Savotta or tractor restaurant Zetor. Savotta’s experience recipe includes delicious traditional Finnish food, interior decoration and dishes inspired by the Finnish forests and thousands of lakes, with a dash of Finnish “sisu” and logging traditions. The restaurant pays homage to the thousands of lumberjacks and log floaters, the matrons and foremen at the logging sites, and of course the mill owners.

Source: Zetor

Zetor on the other hand can be seen fit if you want to grab a bite sitting at a sturdy farm table or to quench your thirst astride a real tractor. Food and drink menus convey the true spirit of Finland, offering a wide selection of familiar classics as well as specialties inspired by Finland’s unspoiled countryside. 

A lush Christmas Eve can be spent along the Esplanade Park where restaurant Brasserie Kämp offers you a luxurious Christmas Eve dinner. On the year-round terrace you can write down your New Year resolutions inspired by the park view.

Christmas Eve in the historical center is spent in restaurant Sunn where you have the view of the stunning white Cathedral! Sunn’s specialties are e.g. its cherry mulled wine and salmon soup.

On the bar and nightlife scene bar Loose, Molly Malones, On the rocks, Lady Moon, Millionaires Club, Siltanen and Onnela stay open during Christmas Eve.